Chrysanthemum Build Understanding Build Vocabulary Build...

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58 Book Time 59 Chrysanthemum Build Understanding to the Book R e s p o n d to the Book R e s p o n d Build Vocabulary Build Skills Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes A little mouse named Chrysanthemum learns how special she is. Read to Explore Discuss the importance of people’s names with children. Draw out that a name (or even a nickname) is very special to each one of us and we feel good when we hear our name. Read aloud the title and explain that this is the name of the little mouse on the cover. During reading help children make predictions about the story using the following prompts and questions. Page 9: Why do you think everyone giggled when they heard Chrysanthemum’s name? How do you think Chrysanthemum feels when everyone giggled? Page 10: Chrysanthemum does not think her name is perfect. Now it’s dreadful. That doesn’t sound good, does it? Dreadful means very bad or terrible. Page 13: Does Chrysanthemum still think that her name is dreadful? How do we know? What do you think will happen next? As you read aloud the rest of the story, pause to confirm predictions. Oral Language Show children page 8 in the book and ask them to use words that describe Chrysanthemum’s feelings. Then do the same with other pages. Discuss how both the text and the illustrations help them understand Chrysanthemum’s problem. Reread for Meaning Discussing the meaning of the vocabulary words below will help children understand the story better. Name some things that are beautiful. Is Chrysanthemum’s name perfect or funny? Explain. Why weren’t some of the girls nice to Chrysanthemum? An accident can be dreadful. What else may be dreadful or bad? Writing Have children practice writing their names for a display. Encourage each child to draw a picture of something really special that tells about him/her or his/her name. Reread to Comprehend Explain to children that stories often have interesting and likeable characters. Use the following questions to get children thinking more about Chrysanthemum. Why do you think Chrysanthemum’s parents say that she is perfect? Why do you think Chrysanthemum’s classmates make fun of her name? What would you say to (do for) Chrysanthemum to make her feel better? Science Connection Bring in a field guide to flowers (or birds) and have children look through the book. If they could have a flower name, what would it be? Have them share the picture of the flower and explain why. Learning Goals English-Language Learners Informal Assessment Oral Language/Vocabulary Concepts: Feeling words (beautiful, dreadful, funny, nice, perfect) Comprehension: Understand a character Preview Be sure that children understand the meaning of Chrysanthemum’s name. Use the illustrations of the flower to explain. Are children using words that describe Chrysanthemum’s feelings? Are children exploring the main character as a CHRYSANTHEMUM by Kevin Henkes. Copyright © 1991 by Kevin Henkes. Published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved. to the Book R e s p o n d

Transcript of Chrysanthemum Build Understanding Build Vocabulary Build...

58 Book Time 59Chrysanthemum

Build Understanding

to the BookRespond to the BookRespond

Build Vocabulary Build SkillsChrysanthemumby Kevin Henkes

A little mouse named Chrysanthemum learns how special she is.

Read to Explore Discuss the importance of people’s names with children. Draw out that a name (or even a nickname) is very special to each one of us and we feel good when we hear our name.

Read aloud the title and explain that this is the name of the little mouse on the cover. During reading help children make predictions about the story using the following prompts and questions.

Page 9: Why do you think everyone giggled when they heard Chrysanthemum’s name? How do you think Chrysanthemum feels when everyone giggled?

Page 10: Chrysanthemum does not think her name is perfect. Now it’s dreadful. That doesn’t sound good, does it? Dreadful means very bad or terrible.

Page 13: Does Chrysanthemum still think that her name is dreadful? How do we know? What do you think will happen next?

As you read aloud the rest of the story, pause to confirm predictions.

Oral Language Show children page 8 in the book and ask them to use words that describe Chrysanthemum’s feelings. Then do the same with other pages. Discuss how both the text and the illustrations help them understand Chrysanthemum’s problem.

Reread for Meaning Discussing the meaning of the vocabulary words below will help children understand the story better.

• Name some things that are beautiful.

• Is Chrysanthemum’s name perfect or funny? Explain.

• Why weren’t some of the girls nice to Chrysanthemum?

• An accident can be dreadful. What else may be dreadful or bad?

Writing Have children practice writing their names for a display. Encourage each child to draw a picture of something really special that tells about him/her or his/her name.

Reread to Comprehend Explain to children that stories often have interesting and likeable characters. Use the following questions to get children thinking more about Chrysanthemum.

• Why do you think Chrysanthemum’s parents say that she is perfect?

• Why do you think Chrysanthemum’s classmates make fun of her name?

• What would you say to (do for) Chrysanthemum to make her feel better?

Science Connection Bring in a field guide to flowers (or birds) and have children look through the book. If they could have a flower name, what would it be? Have them share the picture of the flower and explain why.

Learning Goals

English-Language Learners

Informal Assessment

➤ Oral Language/Vocabulary Concepts: Feeling words (beautiful, dreadful, funny, nice, perfect)

➤ Comprehension: Understand a character

Preview Be sure that children understand the meaning of Chrysanthemum’s name. Use the illustrations of the flower to explain.

➤ Are children using words that describe Chrysanthemum’s feelings?

➤ Are children exploring the main character as a

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